Diverse demands on the forest and uses are associated with different interests, which require a fact-based dialogue. Particularly in the area of conflict between climate change and other challenges, we as a society and as experts are called upon to find joint solutions for the reconciliation of interests.
The NaBioKom project deals with the question: How can nature parks and biosphere reserves as communication platforms support and promote the dialogue process between regional actors of nature conservation and forestry? Together with team ewen, project partner for communication and mediation, and four practice partners, the IfLS implements dialogue processes in the reallaboratories. The Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park, the Bergstrasse-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park and the Rhön and Thuringian Forest Biosphere Reserves are participating as real laboratories. The project is supported by the Agency for Renewable Resources with funds from the BMEL.
A short description of the project with details on the project background, goal and process can be found here.
At the KickOff on October 10, 2022, the project team discussed possible points of contact in the real laboratories. The participating nature parks and biosphere reserves are already in constant exchange with actors in forest management and nature conservation and can build on a very good relationship. They see themselves as communication platforms for the dialogue of different stakeholders, also because they are committed to the different forest functions. Building on these previous experiences and successes, they see a need for further dialogue in their real laboratories on the topics of forest and recreation, forest and game, adaptation to climate change, implementation of measures in large-scale nature conservation projects, and the boundary line shift between forest and open land. In the dialogue processes, a balance of interests is to be worked out for the different demands. The aim is to develop approaches that reflect a common understanding of multifunctional and near-natural forest management in which these actors can find each other. As a result of the process, both content-related and methodological approaches to solutions are planned, such as a selection of suitable and tested procedures for the reconciliation of interests.
Contact persons at the IfLS: Marie Sophie Schmidt (schmidt[at]ifls.de) and Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de)
